Interview - SBF Employee (Gary Foster)

Every month we literally put one of our employees under the spotlight and ask them a series of professional, and personal, questions. This month, it's Gary Foster.

How old are you? 36

What's your professional background?Banking and finance. I spent 10 years with HSBC in Berkshire and then Birmingham doing everything from cashiering, financial advice, opening and closing branches to managing branches, area teams and corporate banking. I’ve spent the last 6 years working for Yorkshire Bank looking after various portfolios of business banking customers across the Midlands. I moved across to SBF in December 2011.

What do you do at SBF? I’m a Corporate Manager based out of our recently opened Birmingham office

What are your primary responsibilities?My role is all about looking after our existing clients. From the day of take on, I help them to make the most of their facilities with us while ensuring that our internal controls are applied.

What’s the best thing about your job? Getting out and about meeting clients at their premises. There’s a load of doom and gloom in the world at the moment but we have some real success stories that we help. I also enjoy spending time with the professional community spreading the word about Skipton Business Finance

What was your childhood ambition?To be a professional tuba player. I managed to tour most of Europe and North America while I was at school playing in some pretty amazing orchestras and groups.

What are your hobbies? Rugby seems to take up most of my time, I play for Bromsgrove RFC.

Favourite film?It changes depending on how I feel. The Blues Brothers, National Lampoons Animal House, Grosse Pointe Blank and Bad Boys are all right up there.

Favourite ice cream? Cookies and Cream

Favourite band / artist? Steps and Take That

Favourite food? Steak

Favourite colour? Orange

Favourite cartoon? Family Guy

Favourite sitcom? Men Behaving Badly

You wouldn’t know it by looking at me but... I’ve run a half marathon in 1 hour 46 with a broken toe